10,000 Lakes Chapter of ICC

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Inspectors Jim Bob and Tom Frank are having a discussion about some new codes. Jim Bob says he doesn’t like the way some rules are written and he thinks they aren’t necessary and he says so. He says he is going to interpret the code that this rule is not required.

Tom Frank asks Jim Bob if he isn’t worried about the repercussions of publicly stating he wasn’t going to enforce a certain rule.

Jim Bob says, “Heck no Tom Frank, the law gives me the responsibility to interpret the code and that is what I am doing, interpreting the code”.

Tom Franks says “I don’t think you are interpreting the code Jim Bob, I think you are ignoring it”.

Jim Bob says, “So what if I am, no big deal, I don’t want to deal with this rule”.

Tom Frank says, “But Jim Bob, what you are going to ignore might cause a serious injury or even a death. And since it is common knowledge that you are ignoring it, isn’t that what they called nonfeasance in that seminar you and I went to in Bermidji?”

Jim Bob says, “Nothing has ever happened before Tom Frank. Besides, I am retiring in a month and if something does happen I’ll be untouchable”.

Tom Frank then says, “Not so fast Jim Bob. Don’t you remember that inspector in Colorado who was charged criminally for something he missed and four people died from carbon monoxide poisoning and he was arrested and put in jail and he was retired when he was arrested? And he hadn’t publicly stated he was going to ignore something, it might have been an oversight.”

Jim Bob says, “Yabut”

Then Tom Frank says, “Yabut nothing, the guy had to post bail to get out and had to hire an attorney and the charges were eventually dismissed but then he was sued civilly. And you won’t be an employee and you might need to pay for your own defense. And, then there was a national code change in the I-Codes that requires a jurisdiction to pay your legal expenses even if it is a criminal charge but that language isn’t in Minnesota rules. They could hang you out to dry.”